Irene Update: Chase Banks Drop Overdraft, Credit Card Late Fees in N.Y., N.J., Conn.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, JPMorgan Chase bank will waive overdraft, insufficient and credit card late fees for customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The bank said the fees will be waived through Sept. 4. As things return to normal, the bank will increase staff and extend its hours for Tri-state area customers affected by Hurricane Irene.

Millions were affected by the tropical storm, and power remained out for hundreds of thousands in the region as mass transit systems across the region began sputtering back to life Monday morning.

In an e-mail, Ryan McInerney, chief executive of Chase Consumer Banking, said the bank was expanding efforts to help you and our millions of customers in the tri-state area as you recover from the storm.

Chase had kept its branches open late Friday as Tri-state residents scrambled for last-minute cash to stock up and prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, which passed through the region on Sunday.

Chase said it expected most ATMs in the area to be operational, but if they weren't Chase wouldn't charge you for using someone else's ATM in the tri-state area.

Here's the Chase letter sent to Tri-State Customers:

To our valued customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut:

We hope you, your families and your customers are safe following Hurricane Irene. Natural disasters are very stressful and we want to help where we can.

This week, we are expanding our efforts through Sunday, September 4, 2011, to help you and our millions of customers in the Tri-State area as you recover from the storm.

• We are increasing staff and extending hours at key branches in severely affected areas.
  • When we know we can get employees to work safely, we will increase staff and extend hours. Please visit chase.com frequently and check our Branch Locater for details on the branches near you.
• We expect most, if not all, of our ATMs to be operational. But if you can't get to one of our ATMs, we won't charge you for using someone else's ATM in the Tri-State area.
  • However, the bank that owns the ATM may charge you.
• We are waiving the following Chase fees charged between now and through September 4, 2011 for customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut:
  • Overdraft, Overdraft Protection Transfer, and Insufficient Funds Fees for deposit accounts.
  • Late fees on credit cards, business and consumer loans.

Please call your personal banker if you are unable to access your funds. For example, we will waive the early withdrawal fees on CDs to help customers with their cash flow.

If you have more specific problems, please call your Financial Advisor, Business Banker, Loan Officer or simply come into your nearest Chase branch. Our branch and telephone bankers are empowered to go the extra mile for customers with storm-related problems or concerns. We also plan to call many of our customers in the hardest hit areas to see if there are other ways we can help.

We hope these efforts can play a small part in easing some of your worries following the storm. We are committed to doing what we can for our customers who have been impacted. If you need assistance, please call us at one of the phone numbers below.

Sincerely,
Ryan McInerney
Chief Executive Officer
Chase Consumer Banking